Gimmies

[t0m]

When is it acceptable to give gimmies. Played tonight with 3 guys from work just a knock about. We have a social club and all play in house comp last week the 3 plus another played together and did very well when playing tonight they where giving each other all sorts 3ft puts, free drops, poor ball marking and putting with the flag in they did this last week too. We all put £5 in and the top 3 get cash it's a bit annoying. But when is gimmies allowed and who can give them.

 

[Tiger man]

I never give them nor look to receive them. Always hole out no arguments then. Just a rule made for short putt bottlers

 

[SugarPenguin]

Yeah its a tricky one.
If money is involved - even if it is with mates then our fiddle always hole out.

 

[Old Skier]

Yeah its a tricky one.
If money is involved - even if it is with mates then our fiddle always hole out.

^^^^^^^

 

[Region3]

They are allowed by the rules of golf in matchplay, and they are given by the opponent(s).

In games with your mates then decide between you.

I agree it can get a little silly sometimes. The group I usually play with has 1 or 2 that are a little too generous and it normally ends with an argument about why x was given a putt and y wasn't.

It's stupid. No one holes a 3 foot putt for a round then wonder why they miss them in a medal.

I'd rather knock them all in, but it makes sense to give unmissable ones, ie left it in the jaws 2" short if it saves faffing about wondering if you're on anyone else's line.

 

[t0m]

Do all have to agree

 

[mcbroon]

Never expect gimmies, and so I'm never annoyed about not getting one.

Even playing with mates, I like to hole out always. And especially if there's money involved.

 

[Tashyboy]

Gimmies seem to get further and further from the hole as the round goes on. Played the other week and gimmies were stated as putter grip length. Works for me.

 

[Region3]

Do all have to agree

No, but you can't give a putt to someone on your team for obvious reasons.

 

[Region3]

Gimmies seem to get further and further from the hole as the round goes on. Played the other week and gimmies were stated as putter grip length. Works for me.

This is where I wouldn't bother. It's quicker to knock it in than to measure the ones that are close.

 

[Ian_Bristol]

When we give gimmies the ball has to be no further than a standard putter shaft not including the grip

 

[Slab]

It's acceptable when the players agree to it (money game or not)

We'll do gimmies for money games, its still just social golf and virtually every social game has money on it of some sort. We'll also do placing on fairways any time of the year (& yes you can use your club head to move the ball)

My idea of a gimmie is around 16-18 inches tops and that means someone else might give a good bit more in another group but so what its social golf with friends, the winners typically getting the first drinks in anyway

 

[MashieNiblick]

In our regular knock about 4BBB matches we just decide on the circumstances and instinct. Adds to the fun. A lot depends on if we want to get a move on, whether its a straight putt, whether X might be putting well or badly etc. Sometimes it's generous sometimes it's not. Generally a bit of banter around those that are maybe too generous or too mean. Can't see the point of faffing about measuring with a putter except to make a point and/or get a laugh. It's just a bit of fun!

 

[Fish]

In a fiddle or as we called it a chuck-in at a previous club they used the black lower part of the flag as a defined length, it was around 3ft, sometimes on a sloping green and coming in from the side or even downhill on a fast green I'd never give that length as those can be very tricky, but when there is a clear defined length that can be easily verified, it removes all the arguments.

In a matchplay comp I'll decide on each putt on every green on the basis of its potential difficulty so I'll have no predetermined length to judge my decision on.

On that note, I'll say nothing and just expect that as I've not given the putt, he'll step up and putt again, I don't like it when opponents say "I'll need to see that in" or words to that effect, I think that's an attempt to add pressure, if your not going to give it, then simply don't say anything, even if he looks at you in expectation!

 

[Robobum]

In our regular knock about 4BBB matches we just decide on the circumstances and instinct. Adds to the fun. A lot depends on if we want to get a move on, whether its a straight putt, whether X might be putting well or badly etc. Sometimes it's generous sometimes it's not. Generally a bit of banter around those that are maybe too generous or too mean. Can't see the point of faffing about measuring with a putter except to make a point and/or get a laugh. It's just a bit of fun!

A bit of sense at last!

No gimmies!?
Measuring!?
Arguments!?

WTF? Pick it up and move on

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I'd be happy to never have gimme's but apparently it speeds up play (well at least it recovers some time from all the faffing around people do in other parts of the game.)

That said, in a bounce game I think it's best to agree up front and TBH, if you're not happy about the length of gimme people are giving then say something. I'm pretty tight with what I give but have seen some ridiculous ones in my time.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends. I'd rather hole out and get into good habits for competitive rounds and if the ball is inside a foot in a roll up I'll knock it back unless asked not to. To be honest in our roll up on a Saturday it can get a bit silly but for the sake of £3 am I going to get too stressed.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Again we aren't playing for a career in golf - it's a hobby for us all

I'm happy to give gimmies - don't use them as a tactic or anything just give what I think someone will putt on matchplay.

In roll ups we have gimmies and again we use people's common sense and trust to be able to judge sensiblely the gimmies given.

 

[Tashyboy]

This is where I wouldn't bother. It's quicker to knock it in than to measure the ones that are close.

Yup that's what I thought until I lipped one out the other week in a comp. Hit a 35-40 footer which turned just in front of the hole for a birdie. I was that frustrated I just walked up and tapped it and it lipped out ending up further away sunk me bogey putt though 😕

 

[Capella]

The only thing that rubs me the wrong way is peope asking for gimmies. That's not how it is supposed to work. They are gimmies, not takeys. Mark Crossfield does that a lot on his videos and it always bothers me.